Sign display frame



L. J. SCHNEIDER SIGN DISPLAY FRAME Filed Sept. 30, 1935 Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGN DISPLAY FRAME Louis J. Schneider, Chicago, 111.

Application September 30, 1935, Serial No. 42,802

2 Claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a suitable frame for the reception and display of advertising signs and is constructed and arranged to render the signs easily interchangeable.

A suitable embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Fig. l is a perspective View of a sign display frame constructed in accordance with the invention, showing a sign plate disposed therein.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 showing the sign plate removed and the device in position to receive another sign plate.

Fig. 3 is a. front elevation partly in section of the sign frame shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary detail sectional views on an enlarged scale on the lines ll and 55, respectively, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective sectional view on an enlarged scale illustrating a latch means in the structure.

The structure of this invention is of the kind commercially known as a side walk sign and comprises a rectangular frame I composed of conventional angle irons welded together at their corners. This frame is suitably secured to a pair of supporting legs 2 by means of the bracket plates which are welded or otherwise secured to the side rails of the frame I and may be riveted or welded to the outer side faces of the supporting legs 2.

The top and bottom rails of the frame I are provided in their horizontally extending flanges with slots 4. In the side flanges 5 of the side rails of the frame I there are inclined slots 6.

A rectangular frame l having normally bowed flexible side rails 0 is adapted to be received within the frame I, and a sign plate 9 is adapted to be disposed between the inwardly extending flanges I0 of the side and top rails of the frame I and to be clamped between the latter and said frame I.

The upper and lower rails of the frame 1 are each provided with a pair of projections II to engage in the said slots 4 of the top and bottom rails of the frame I, the side rails of the said frame I being bowed to such an extent that when the projections II engage in the slots- 4 of the lower rail of the frame I, the frame I may be swung inwardly into the frame I and, upon flexing the side rails 8 of the frame 1, they are rendered straight. The said projections II of the upper rail of the frame I will then engage in the slots 4 of the upper rail of the frame I.

Pivotally mounted upon each of the side rails B of the frame 1 are latch members I2 each equipped at one end with a handle l3 and each provided at its other end with a substantially V- shaped portion I4. The latter is adapted to en- 5 gage one of the said inclined slots 6 of the said side rails of the frame I.

The arrangement is such that when the sign plate 9 has been mounted in the frame I and the frame I is disposed in the position shown in Fig. 1, but before operating the said latch member I2, the said side rails 8 of the frame I will be maintained flexed into straight position by pressure of the hands of the operator against the same, and while said frame is so held, the 15 latch members I2 will be turned into the position shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, first to engage the V-shape-d end portions I I thereof in the lower end portions of the slots 6 as more particularly shown in Fig. 6, said latch members will then be 20 forced into position wherein the side rails 8 of the frame I are pressed firmly against the sign plate 9 and the latter will thus be held against any movement relatively to the frame I and consequently against rattling under influence of wind.

I claim as my invention:

1. A plate retaining structure comprising a frame member comprising a peripheral wall and an inwardly projecting peripheral flange integral with one edge of said wall and against which a peripheral edge portion of a plate is adapted to bear,'there being slots in the top and bottom and in the side portions of said peripheral wall, a skeleton flexible, normally bowed retaining memher adapted to flt within the peripheral wall of the said frame member and coinciding in shape and size substantially with the inwardly extending peripheral flange of the frame member, projections on the upper and lower ends of the re- 40 t-aining member for engaging in the slots in the top and bottom portions of the peripheral wall when said retaining member is flexed to extend substantially parallel with said inwardly projecting peripheral flange, and digitally .operable latch members on the side portions of said retaining member for engaging in said slots in the side portions of said peripheral wall.

2. A plate retaining structure comprising a frame member comprising a peripheral wall and an inwardly projecting peripheral flange integral with one edge of said wall and against which a peripheral edge portion of a plateis adapted to bear, there being slots in the top and bottom portions of said wall disposed parallel with and taining member is flexed to extend substantially parallel with said inwardly projecting peripheral flange, and digitally operable latch members pivotally mounted upon the side portions of said retaining member for engaging in said angular slots of said frame member and cooperating therewith for wedging said retaining member firmly against a plate disposed within said frame member.

LOUIS J. SCHNEIDER. 

